Speaking at the Italian Open on Sunday, Djokovic said "I feel better. The ankle is not bothering me anymore. ... I'm already slowly starting to release the protection from the ankle because I feel more and more stable on it. There's no pain, which is great."

Djokovic won the Italian Open in 2008 and 2011 and he's looking forward to a warm reception at the Foro Italico after the Madrid crowd turned against him in the loss to Dimitrov.

Round 1 in Rome

Coming off his upset of top-ranked Novak Djokovic in Madrid, Grigor Dimitrov opened his Italian Open campaign with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Cypriot veteran Marcos Baghdatis on Sunday.

At 21, Dimitrov is the youngest player in the Foro Italico draw. The Bulgarian is ranked No. 28.

Dimitrov will next face ninth-seeded Richard Gasquet, who beat Sam Querrey of the United States 6-2, 7-6 (10-8).

John Isner, the only other American in the draw, was eliminated by Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3.